Riviera of Budva and Kotor

Type:

Old towns,

Historic Buildings,

Photos,

Luxurious coastline

Type: Old Towns, Historic Buildings, Photos, Luxurious Coastline

Length: 6 Hours Walking: Medium Mobility: No wheelchairs Guide: Licensed Guide Language: English, Italian, French, German, Russian (other languages upon request)

Departing from Kotor in the direction of Riviera of Budva, which includes the city of Budva, St, Stefan and Milocer.

Two old urban cores, seven monasteries, about twenty sand beaches and line of parks are hiding 20 km of Budva Riviera. This half day picnic is an introduction to more serious visiting and getting to know the place you are staying in, and to which you'll surely devote after this picnic. After the panoramic drive and walk through The Royal Park in Milocer, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy in the shade of centenary olives and in the view of St. Stefan or to visit by themselves this town from the 15 century. This excursion includes an organized tour of The Old Town of Budva and Old Town of Kotor.

Throughout the ages, the areas we often talk about along Montenegro’s “Riviera” coast have been

frequented by travelers of all types, in particular European royalty that found in Montenegro some of

Europe’s most luxurious natural wonders in the forms of sweeping white-sand beaches, rocky islands dotted

with antique houses built from local stones, glorious sun rises over Montenegro’s white-topped mountains

and glimmering sunsets over her ancient coastal waters. The spirit of modern Montenegro is never more

alive than it is in the coast between Budva and Sveti Stefan (Saint Stefan’s Island), where you will find the

royal hideaway of Milocer. The drive towards Milocer is breathtaking in its own right with sea-views

breaking among stands of fir trees and stony outcroppings that leap into the sea. Milocer rests in the heart

of the Montenegrin Riviera, between the booming extravagance that is Budva and the charmingly old town-

on-the-rock of Sveti Stefan (Saint Stefan).

Milocer was built as a royal hideaway for the wealthy Karadjordjevic royal family during the 19th Century,

and in recent times has been converted into a posh touristic resort run by the award-winning AmanResorts

that also operates nearby Sveti Stefan (Saint Stefan). The grounds at Milocer currently support a luxury

hotel, two beaches (one of which is a private beach), lush gardens, tennis courts, mini golf and a Casino.

Fir trees intermingle with the ancient olive groves that dot the Montenegrin coastline, and while here one

can’t help but imagine that they’ve been transported back 100 years to a time when the nobility of Europe

came to Milocer to enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

Big attraction on the Riviera of Budva is Sveti Stefan. The former fishing village situated on a peninsula became a hotel-town 50 years ago and that’s how one wonderful place, where even the most famous people like Claudia Shiffer and Sylvester Stallone like to spend their time, has been made. According to the tradition, a fortification was built in 1442. On the island of Sveti Stefan and in that period people settled there. A wall was built around the fortification in order to provide protection for families from surrounding places before the Turkish and pirate’s invasion. According to legend the settlement was established after an armed attack of Pastrovici against the Turkish crew galleys and they built a fortress from what they had confiscated with one house for each twelve Pastrovic tribes. On the balcony above the entering door in Sveti Stefan, court house of Pastrovici shared justice and solved disputes therefore it’s called the “place of justice Because of its position Sveti Stefan was a mercantile center of Pastrovici. It was of a big strategic and trade importance during the period of Republic of Venice and traded with Venice. It started to lose its importance at the end of 19th century when the townsfolk started to leave the town. The complete migration happened in 1955. When the peninsula was completely adapted and transformed into hotel-town. Streets, walls, roofs, house facades kept their original shape and look and the inside of them got the most contemporary hotel comfort.

Ascents of great Mediterranean cultures marked the spirit of this town, and its felt even today, when Budva

is a unique touristic pearl of this part of Adriatic sea. This town became known as a touristic destination long time ago- first tourists came here in 1923. and today it is usually called “metropolis of tourism” because it is the most visited destination in Montenegro and one of the most visited on Adriatic. The remains of the ancient Budva city gates through which those same sailors perhaps came back to their homes, are now displayed in the premises of a boutique where today one can find some modern items from important European fashion capitals. Outside the walls of the Old Town Budva, in a part of one of the popular cafes, lie the remains of Roman mosaics. In Budva, the past really does live alongside the present. Outside the protection of the Old Town stonewalls of Budva’s oldest district, modern revelers will find entertainments to suit all tastes and budgets – Budva’s hotels, restaurants and discothèques (clubs) and also joined by family-fare such as children’s entertainment centers and cafes closely stacked together in a charming, if not hectic, setting. The island of "Saint Nicholas" still keeps a watchful eye on Budva and its numerous sandy beaches - being the only island in the vicinity of Budva and its Old Town center.

Old Town Budva -.The story regarding how Old Town Budva first got its name ties into a mythological tradition that spans over 2500 years, and really reflects the history found in this very old town. Budva’s walls were built straight out of the Adriatic Sea and what we see today is really only a fraction of the city’s splendor at its height, preserved with loving care by the local residents of Budva who are proud of

their long history. The sea really defined life in Old Town Budva, and was the town’s source of life for many thousands of years, connecting Budva with the outside world, enabling Budva to trade for foreign goods, become rich, and built the architectural treasures that make the city an enjoyable place for all of us living today. To look on Old Town Budva’s city walls from a nearby hill, or gaze out of the loopholes (designed for arrows) that penetrate Budva’s stone defenses, we can begin to imagine what life was like in Budva across the ages. These ramparts widen to form the Citadel, once a tremendous fortification on the Adriatic but now a more peaceful venue for the city’s many “City Theater” performances, which have found the perfect stage for dramatic productions. Notable historic edifices include: the Church of St. Sava the Sanctified which features remnants of frescoes and inscriptions from the 1100s; the Church of Santa Maria in Punta and St Ivan’s Church, both built in the 7th century; and the town’s fortress of Citadel. Wandering the streets and walkways of Budva one can’t help being swept back in time.

Kotor is situated on the southeastern part of Boka bay, on a foothill of the mountain Lovcen. The area of community of Kotor is 355 km2. Kotor is cultural, educational, economical and sport center of this area. As the only fiord on the Mediterranean, Boka Kotorska was added to the list of twenty five the most beautiful bays in the world in July 2000, the others being mainly in Scandinavia. The history of Kotor can be traced to the most ancient times. In the surrounding caves there have been found various tools and ceramics witnessing humane existence from the Neolithic period, as well as drawings on the walls of the cave at Lipci near Risan. In the antique period the Illyrian tribal state was the first organized humane community on these territories. Roman conquest began by the end of the third century BC and since the year 169 BC these territories had been under the rule of Rome, and then were taken over by the Byzantines. The first Slav tribes settled there in the 12th century. Its first state was Doclea, later called Zeta. Since the end of the 12th century Kotor was in power of the members of the Nemanjic Dynasty until 1420 when the Republic of Venice occupied it and stayed there until 1797, the time of the Napoleon wars in Europe. After the stormy period from 1797 to 1814 when this area was alternately under the Russians, French, Austrians and Montenegrins, at the Vienna Congress in 1814, Kotor became the constituent of the Austro-Hungary Monarchy and remained under the rule of Austro-Hungary until 1918 when this region became a part of Yugoslavia until its disintegration. For its unique mixture of different cultures, Kotor entered the list of the world cultural heritage under the protection of the UNESCO. In the past, the most developed industry in this area was trade and maritime affairs. Seafarers used to bring different products from overseas which they would exchange for the goods they were in need of. In that way Kotor became one of the most important trading centers in this part of the Adriatic coast.

The Grgurina Palace - Maritime Museum

The palace Grgurina belonged to the noble family Grgurina. It was built in the eighteenth century in the

Baroque style, with the façade on which dominate stone balconies with balustrades. Particularly interesting

is originally preserved lay out of the floor rooms according to the Venetian pattern which says: the

master’s house has four rooms and one parlor. Today in the palace is situated the Maritime Museum whose

collection shows development of maritime affairs and cultural level of the inhabitants of the Montenegrin

Littoral and Boka Kotorska in the past.

The Maritime Museum of Montenegro in Kotor has grown out of the collection founded by the "Boka

Marine" Fraternity, around the year 1880 and opened to public in 1900. It gradually enlarged and in

1938, it was re-arranged and opened to visitors on the first floor of the present Museum building. It

was only after the end of World War II, in the period 1949-1952, that the whole building, Baroque

palace of the noble Grgurina family from the beginning of the 18th century was completely restored

and adapted to meet the needs of the Museum.

St. Tryphon Cathedral

The Romanesque church built in 1166 on the fundaments of the small Romanesque church from the ninth

century. It is three-nave Basilica, extensively restored several times, especially after the 1667 earthquake

when the bell towers and a part of the façade were destroyed. After the earthquake, new bell towers were

made in the Baroque style. The rose windows on the façade are those which attract the special attention.

Once they were Romanesque but today they are with Gothic-Renaissance motives.

St. Tryphon’s Cathedral has in its possession a rich collection of art paintings preserving the works of Marin

Lovra Dobricevic, Tripo Kokolj, Paolo Veroveza, Hieronim Santa Croce and other great artists.

The church has a rich collection of gold and silver relics, the works of local masters from the period from

the fourteenth to the eighteenth centuries. The interior of the Cathedral is depicted with frescoes done by

Greek masters-pictures greci.

The most important part of the interior decoration of the Cathedral is the Romanesque Gothic ciborium

from the fourteenth century above the main altar. On the wall of the apse there is the Golden Altarpiece

with figures of Christ, the Virgin, St. John the Baptist and St. Tryphon and sixteen other saints. It is the

masterpiece of Kotor goldsmiths’ work of the first half of the fifteenth century.

St. Nicola’s Church

Church of St. Nicholas is the most important Orthodox Church in Kotor. It

is located in the northern part of the old town. The twin towered, frontal

facade of the church shares the same square as the pretty St. Luke's

Square.

A church was originally built here in the 17th century but was destroyed

in the 19th. The building of the church started in 1902 and according to

the inscriptions on the facade it was finished in 1909. It was built in the

Pseudo-Byzantine style as one-nave church. The main façade is framed

with two bell towers.

Of special value in the church is iconostasis of the church made in

1908.The church standing in its place dates from 1909. The interior of

the church is well worth investigated for its peaceful atmosphere and

beautiful icons. You can get a different view of the church by walking

through the Karampana Tower in the western corner of the old town and

along the Skurda cannel where you will reach the back of the Church.

Hanging from the front facade is the flag of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

St. Luka's Church

Another important Orthodox church is St. Luka's Church, also

located in the Old Town. It was built during the reign of the

Serbian dynasty Nemanjic, late 12th century.

St. Lucas's Church is situated in the centre of the urban core

of Kotor. The church was built in 1195.

The iconostas of the church is the work of art of Dimitrije

Daskal, the founder of the Boka Kotorska Rafailovic

iconographic school, from the 17th century.

This is the only edifice in the town that did not suffer

significant destruction during the earthquake. The floor in the

church consists of tombstones on the joint tombs of the

citizens of Kotor, since until the 1830's burials were being

carried out in the church itself.

Prices from 40,00 € per person

Price of the excursions includes:

1) Transport Up to 2 persons – Car Transport From 3 to 7 persons - Minivan Transport From 8 to 18 persons – Mini bus Transport From 18-49 persons - Bus Transport

2) Visit to Milocer Park and walk through the park to the St. Stefan

3) Visit to The Old Town of Budva Archaeological Museum, Art Gallery and all fees

4) Visit to The Old city of Kotor, The Cathedral of St.Trifun, Maritime Museum and all fees

5) Tourist Guide Services

PRICE EXCLUDES: Other Entrance fees and meals

Price of this excursion by type of transport:

By Bus (19-49 pax) Price per person

- Price for person 40,00 €

By Mini bus (8-18 pax) Price per person

- Price for person 50,00 €

By Minivan (3-7 pax) Price per person

- Price for 3 persons 120,00 €





By Car (1-2 pax) Price per persons

- Price for 1 person 250,00 €


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Riviera of Budva and Kotor